Book Reviews: British Atlas

Summary

This is an academic review of the Atlas of Britain and Northern Ireland, published by Oxford University Press in 1963 at $100. The atlas presents a mid-20th-century cross-section of Britain through 200 pages of maps, covering physical geography (geology, relief, climate, soils) and human geography (population, agriculture, industry, transport). Most maps are at 1:2,000,000 scale, with some thematic maps at 1:1,000,000, based on extensive research by a team of experts. The presentation is ingenious, with notable examples like agricultural holdings and coal mine maps. The review notes that while not an official national atlas, it surpasses similar works in scope and precision, and holds historical value, though its detail makes it quickly dated. It concludes that for the next decade or two, it will be the standard reference on Britain's economic activity distribution.